COLD WAR (1941 TO 1975)
YEAR
DATE
nd
1941
22 June 1941
7th December 1941
1944
August 1944
February 4th – 11th 1945
April 12th 1945
May 1945
By July 1945
1945
July 16th 1945
July 17th 1945
August 1945
EVENT
Germany invades the Soviet Union in an operation called Barbarossa
Japanese attacks Pearl Harbour – US naval base. This brings USA into the war.
In Warsaw, the nationalist Home Army – the London Poles – rises against the German forces, but is
defeated badly. The Red Army waits for the Germans to destroy the nationalists before taking Warsaw
themselves by January 1945. Soviet set up a Communist Provisional Government, and support the
Communist Lublin Poles.
Yalta Conference, Ukraine. The war is still going on. It’s conducted by Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (Britain)
and Stalin (USSR).
President Roosevelt dies, and is replaced by Harry Truman, his vice president at the time.
War ends, and is won by the Allies. Allied troops reach Berlin, Hitler commits suicide and Germany
surrenders on 8th May.
Stalin’s troops effectively control the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia), Finland, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.
Americans test atomic bomb in USA, and Truman tells Stalin of it at the start of the Potsdam conference,
however he does not mention that he was planning to bomb the Japanese.
The Potsdam conference takes place in a Berlin Suburb. Harry Truman (USA), Clement Attlee replaces
Churchill (Britain) midway through conference because Churchill lost his elections, and Stalin (USSR).
USA drops atomic bombs on Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan Surrenders on 14th August.
Stalin gets mad that USA and Britain did not inform him of their plans. Suspicious of the USSR, USA and Britain refuse to share the
secret of how they made their bomb. Infuriated, Stalin feared that USA would use this threat of an atomic bomb to achieve
worldwide power. Thus Stalin orders his own scientist to create the atom bomb. USA sees this as a threat.
Winston Churchill makes his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in Missouri. The speech was heard by Harry
Truman.
Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania all had communist governments loyal to Stalin. This was
By 1946
known as the metaphoric “Iron Curtain”.
The Western Allies stopped giving the USSR reparations from their zones.
By 1947
In Poland, communist leader Bierut becomes head of a one party Communist state.
Britain informs the USA that unless aid is provided, they can no longer afford to keep troops in Greece
24th February 1947
and Turkey. (Originally between the communists and monarchists, the British helped the monarchists
5th March 1946
1946
1947
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March 1947
October 1947
June 1947
December 1947
January 1948
March 1948
1948
June 1st 1948
rise to power. But then the USSR protested to the UN in 1946 and tried to take it by force. Civil war took
place, and the British couldn't afford war and thus decided to leave). However, Truman helped the British
troops stay in Greece by funding them providing financial aid. This introduced the Truman Doctrine.
In a speech made by President Truman to the Congress, the name “Truman Doctrine” was officially
announced.
Communist Information Bureau (or Cominform) is created by Stalin to coordinate work of the communist
parties of Eastern Europe. This was a reaction to the Truman Doctrine.
US Secretary of State, General George Marshall announces his “Marshall Plan”.
Truman asks Congress for 17 billion dollars, to rebuild Europe's prosperity.
USA and British zones merge into one economic unit (the Bizone). By April 1st, Marshall Plan is put into
effect.
First, the Czechs are forbidden from making an appeal for the Marshall Plan. Then, Communists take over
Czechoslovakia. Purge of non-Communists in civil service, education or armed forces. For example
leading non-Communist foreign minister, Jan Masaryk, is found dead. Benes resigns and is replaced by a
Communist. This prompted the Marshall Plan to be put in action, and 17 billion became available over
the next 4 years.
The Bizone (US and British) announce plans with France to create a West German state
th
June 18 1948
1949
1950 – 1953
1955
Introduce new currency into Western zones (the new West German state)
Allies introduce new currency into Western sectors of Berlin. The Soviets also introduce its own new
June 23rd 1948
currency into Soviet zone including Berlin.
Soviets accuse Western Allies of interference in its zone. Cuts off all road, rail, and canal traffic into
June 24th 1948
Western sectors of Berlin. Thus the Berlin Blockade begins.
April 1949
NATO pact in Washington (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
May 12th 1949
Stalin reopened communications, land routes to Berlin.
Joint control of Germany ended. The 3 Western zones became known as the Federal Republic of
By 1949
Germany (anti-Communist and firmly allied to the West). The Soviet zone became the German
Democratic Republic (a one-party Communist state under Soviet control).
Chinese Communists come to power under Mao Tse – Tung.
Korean war
Warsaw pact
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Cuban Missile Crisis
1959
1959 – 1961
Summer 1960
1961
1962
After a three year Guerilla campaign, Fidel Castro overthrows the American-backed dictator Batista. (Batista’s regime was corrupt
and unpopular)
For two years, USA and Cuba maintain frosty relationship with no direct confrontation. During these years, several American and
Cuban economic policies:
 Castro took over American-owned businesses in Cuba by nationalising them. (But allowed USA to keep its naval bases)
 America refuses to buy sugar from Cuba.
 America ends all trade relations with Cuba.
Castro was receiving arms from the USSR and American spies were aware of this.
January 1961
As a result of the USSR-Cuban public relationship, USA breaks off all diplomatic relations with Cuba.
President Kennedy supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1400 anti-Castro Cuban exiles to invade
Cuba and overthrow Castro’s regime. The CIA organised this attack, which ultimately failed. The exiles
April 1961
landed at the Bay of Pigs and were met by 20,000 Cuban troops armed with tanks and modern weapons.
The Invasion failed. Castro captured/killed all the Cuban exiles within days. This fiasco also drove Castro
closer to the USSR.
Early 1962
Americans place a number of nuclear missiles in Turkey within easy range of many cities of the USSR.
May 1962
Soviets publically announce that they supply Cuba with arms.
August 1962
US spy-planes observe Soviet weapons in Cuba.
September 1962
Khruschev secretly starts to send nuclear missiles in Cuba.
September 4th 1962
Kennedy warns the USSR not to put nuclear missiles in Cuba.
th
September 11 1962
Soviet government assures the USA it will not base nuclear missiles outside the USSR.
October 14th 1962
American U-2 spy plane photographs nuclear missile launch sites.
President Kennedy is informed of the missile build up. Ex Comm formed. They got amazingly detailed
October 16th 1962
photographs and thorough reconnaissance. American experts believed that the missiles could be
launched in 7 days, and 20 Soviet ships were currently on the way to Cuba carrying missiles.
October 20th 1962
Kennedy decides on a naval blockade of Cuba (“quarantine”)
st
October 21 1962
Kennedy informs Britain of the circumstances, and tells him of the upcoming blockade.
Kennedy publically announces the quarantine where all Soviet ships bound for Cuba would be stopped
October 22nd 1962
and searched. Kennedy also calls on the Soviet Union to withdraw its missiles. He terms Khrushchev’s
actions as “provocative”.
rd
October 23 1962
Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that Soviet ships will not observe the blockade. He
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1963
1964
neither admits nor denies the presence of nuclear missiles on Cuba. Thus Kennedy shows the world his
aerial photographs to prove Khrushchev was lying, thus humiliating him.
The Blockade begins. There is a 500 mile blockade zone. The first 20 Soviet ships closest to the zone stop
October 24th 1962
or turn around.
October 25th 1962
Despite the blockade, intensive aerial photography reveals continued work on missile bases in Cuba.
Kennedy receives a long personal letter from Khrushchev. It claims that the missiles on Cuba are
October 26th 1962
defensive, and agrees to remove them on the condition that USA ends the blockade and guarantees not
to invade or attack Cuba.
Khrushchev sends a second letter revising his proposals, adding another condition asking USA to remove
their own missiles from Turkey as a bargain. Kennedy cannot accept this, as it would appear as though he
is bowing down to Soviet pressure.
An American U2 plane is shot down over in Cuba. The pilot Is killed. Kennedy decides to delay any attack
and ignores Khrushchev’s second letter, but accepts the terms of the first. He threatens an attack if
October 27th 1962
Khrushchev doesn’t withdraw.
Later, Robert Kennedy (President’s brother) met the Soviet ambassador – Anatoly Dobrynin – and found
the key to the solution. Robert Kennedy made an offer to the Russians that if the Cuban missiles were
removed, the missiles in Turkey would follow soon after (but no official deal was signed. It was a secret
agreement).
Khrushchev replies with an affirmative response of withdrawal, after receiving news from Anatoly
October 28th 1962
Dobrynin about his secret agreement with Robert Kennedy.
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed. Hotline made between USSR (Kremlin) to the USA (White House). Improved relations.
Khrushchev loses power, as he loses his elections in USSR.
Vietnam War
1945
1949
1946 – 1954
The Viet Minh entered the city of Hanoi, and declared Vietnamese independence. (the Viet Minh were anti-Japanese forces, with
American support)
War broke out between France and Vietnam.
Communist take over in China under Mao Tse Tung. They began to aid Ho Chi Minh’s war efforts in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh’s
communist aspirations revealed, as he became a puppet of Mao Tse Tung)
French – Vietnamese war dragged on. During the war, USA poured $500 million into French War efforts, from 1949 onwards, once
China was declared Communist and supported Ho Chi Minh. Thus USA helped the French set up a non-communist government in
South Vietnam.
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1954
1955
1950s
1960
1962
1963
1963 – 1964
1964
1965
1968
1969
1969 – 1973
1970
1971
A definite conclusion of French-Vietnamese war, when the French were defeated (thus Vietnamese forces won) at Dien Bien Phu.
Peace Conference was held in Geneva, deciding on effective division of Vietnam. North and South Vietnam are separated. (USA
prevents Vietnam elections as they fear a Communist win, due to the Domino Theory).
Ngo Dinh Diem set up the Republic of South Vietnam, anti-communist government, with American support. This showed direct
involvement of USA in Vietnam.
USA supported Diem’s corrupt regime with around $1.6 billion.
Communist led National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) is set up. Viet Cong started
December 1960
a guerrilla war against South Vietnam forces. Viet Cong also attacked American air forces and supply
bases, thus angering USA.
President Kennedy sends military personnel (‘advisors’) to fight the Viet Cong.
November 1963
Diem was overthrown by his own military leader, as his regime was corrupt and unpopular.
nd
22 November 1963
Kennedy is assassinated and replaced by Lyndon Johnson.
Tension between North and South Vietnam increases and so did American involvement (11,500 troops by end of 1962; 23000 by end
of 1964)
North Vietnamese patrol boats open fired on US ships in Gulf of Tonkin. US Congress passed Tonkin Gulf
August 1964
Resolution. (Lyndon Johnson allowed to take any measures to protect S. Vietnam)
3500 US marines, combat troops (rather than advisors) came ashore at Da Nang. America was directly at
8th March 1965
war in Vietnam.
January 1968
Tet Offensive began.
March 1968
My Lai Massacre took place.
Peace Conference began in paris (where Johnson announced that he won’t seek re-election)
November 1968
Richard Nixon elected as president.
Strategic Arms Limitation talks (SALT) began. After falling out in early 1969, by late 1969 USSR and China could have even gone to war
(bad relations) therefore both tried to improve relations with USA.
Early 1969
Kissinger had regular meetings with chief North Vietnamese peace negotiator, Le Duc Tho.
April 1969
First American troops began leaving Vietnam.
US dropped over half a million tonnes of bombs on Cambodia, as well as Laos. They had been a neutral country thus there was no
reason to bomb them. This increased support for the Cambodian communists.
Nixon continued SALT talks with USSR to limit nuclear weapons. He asked Moscow to encourage North Vietnam to end the war.
From 540,000, American troops were reduced to 160,000. First troops began leaving in April 1969 itself. Almost 400,000 troops had
left by 1971.
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1972
1973
1974
1973 – 1975
1975
North Vietnamese forces launched major offensive by were unable to conquer South Vietnam. It was similar to the Tet Offensive,
(perhaps revenge?)
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles treaty was signed.
Nixon started to improve relations with China. He was invited to China. There he asked China to pressure
February 1972
North Vietnam to end the war.
Le Duc tho, Nixon and South Vietnamese President General Thieu signed a peace agreement:
 Immediate Cease-fire
 Release of all POWs (prisoners of war) within 60 days
January 1973
 Withdrawal of all US forces and bases
 Full accounting of missing in action
 Self-determination for South Vietnam (Vietnamization)
th
29 March 1973
By then last American troops had left Vietnam.
Richard Nixon forced to resign after Watergate scandal – replaced by Gerald (“Jerry”) Ford.
USA formally recognised East Germany as a country.
December 1974
North Vietnamese launched a major military offensive against South Vietnam.
Leonid Brezhnev (USSR) organised conference on future of Europe in Helsinki.
29th April 1975
Communist capture Southern Capital – Saigon.
Communists won control of Cambodia (the Khmer Rouge). Similarly, the communist force known as Pathet Lao gained support in
Laos and took control of it.
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